Dust hazard eliminator



' Dec. 12, 1939. E. c. GLEDHILL ET AL 2,183,097

DUST HAZARD ELIMINATOR Filed Feb. 5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1939- E. c. GLEDHILL ET AL ,0 7

DUST HAZARD ELIMINATOR Filed Feb. 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 g. A/Jv'eweZZ. H l/filler- Dec. 12, 1939. E. c. GL'EDHILL ET AL Patented Dec. 12, 1939 PATENT GFFHCE' DUST HAZARD ELIMINATOR Edward C. Gledhill and William E. Gledhill. Gallon, and Gail W. Newell, Carey, Ohio, and Harry HrMiller, Clement, Ind, assignors to The Gledhill Road Machinery Company,

Galion, Ohio, a stock company of Ohio Application February 5, 1938, Serial No. 188,996

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved dust hazard eliminator more particularly adapted for use with road scrapers.

. It is well known that, in treating a road sur- 5 face with a road scraper, a large amount of dust is raised and passed rearwardly of said scraper with the result that a motorist following the scraper will have his vision temporarily obscured by the dust and will, therefore, be in great danger of colliding with another vehicle or object. Moreover, dust raised by the scraper'ordinarily spreads and settles over a large area so that homes within the area are covered with dust and the countryside is rendered unsightly.

One object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a dust hazard eliminator for road scrapers which will confine dust passing rearwardly of the scrapers to a small narrow area, thuseliminating danger to motorists following the scrapers and annoyance to residents of homes along the roadside.

Another object of the invention is to providea device of this character wherein means are provided for controlling the flow of dust rearwardly of the road scraper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dust hazard eliminator which is of such shape that air currents passing over it and along its sides will cause a flow of dust passing from it to be directed to lie in the road in. the form of a single low mound, narrow and continuous.

A still further object of the invention is' to provide a dust hazard eliminator which will not interfere with the proper operation of the road scraper.

The invention seeks still further to provide a dust hazard eliminator which will be simple in construction and highly efficient in use.

Other and incidental objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

7 Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing our improved dust hazard eliminator as it would appear 45 mounted on a road scraper, said road scraper being connected with a motor vehicle in an operative position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention Figure 4 is a perspective view of' the skeleton frame employed.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the dust hazard eliminator.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the front of our improved dust hazard eliminator.

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail sectional View on the line 'll of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. (1.5 Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the numeral I indicates in general the skeleton frame of our improved dust hazard eliminator.

The skeleton frame includes runners 2 and 3 which ordinarily form a part of a road shaperA- LO The runners 2 and 3 are of channel shape and are formed at their forward and rear ends with turned up portions 4. Braces 5 extend throughout the major portion of the length of the runners 2 and 3 and are secured thereto. The-lll braces 5 also are usually found on road scrapers. The skeleton frame I includes side plates 6 and l which are formed at their upper corresponding ends with inwardly directed flanges 8 and 9. As best seen in Figure 4, the side plates are adapted to lie against the corresponding outer edges of the braces 5 with the flanges 8 and 9 overlying the major portions of said braces. The runners 2 and 3 are adapted to be connected at'their corresponding forward ends by means of an angle shaped cross bar Ill, although it should be understood that the road scraper or shaper with which our invention is to be employed and normally form an integral part, will provide means for effectually mounting and spacing the runners. Rising from the runners 2 and 3 near their corresponding forward ends, are corner posts l and i2 which are adapted to be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the runners. The corner posts provide anchoring means for the correx sponding forward ends of the side plates 6 and l which side plates also have portions thereof-preferably welded to the posts l l and I2. The skeleton frame I is provided with a substantially triangular rear portion shown generally at 13. The

7 rear portion includes upwardly inclined frame members M and i5 which are tapered toward each other and meet at their corresponding outer ends. The frame members are adapted to have secured thereto an upwardly inclined end plate iii which completely closes the under side of the rear portion IS. The side plates 6 and l, as best seen in Figure 4, are provided with end portions iii and I8 which are connected to the members it and I5 and provide a sealed connection between the rear portion l3 and the mainportion of the frame. A cross bar it connects the rear end portions of the plates it and l and also provides an inner end mounting for the end plate is. .55

Pairs of oppositely disposed intermediate posts 20 and 2! are mounted on the side plates 6 and I and have their lower ends extending through the flanges 3 and 9 and into the main portion of the braces 5. The posts of each pair of posts 20 and 2! are connected by means of cross braces 22 and 23. The cross braces 22 and 23 are each formed from a straight lower member and a bowed upper member, which members are connected along their lengths by vertical struts. A cross brace 24, of similar construction to the cross braces 22 and 23, connects the posts I I and I2. Rear corner posts 25 and 26 are carried by the skeleton frame I and have secured thereto the rear end portions of the side plates 6 and 'I. The posts 25 and 23 are connected at their upper corresponding ends by means of a cross brace 21 which is of similar construction to the cross braces 22, 23 and 24. Side rails 28 and 29 connect the corresponding upper ends of the corner posts and the intermediate posts and said side rails are bent toward each other at the rear of the frame I in overhanging relation with respect to the members I4 and I5. The side rails 28 and 29 meet at their corresponding rear ends, as shown at and said meeting ends are connected to the meeting ends of the members I4 and I5 by means of a relatively short rear center post 3 I.

Preferably three top rails 32, 33 and 34 are mounted on the frame I and are supported in spaced relation to each other on said frame by means of the cross braces 22, 23, 24 and 21. The top rail 33 extends lengthwise of the frame I intermediate its width and terminates at its rear end at the post 30 while the top rails 32 and 34 have their rear portions slightly bent toward each other to taper toward the post 30. The side rails 28 and 29 and the top rails 32, 33 and 34 all have their corresponding rear end portions welded together and to the post 30 so that a unitary rear end portion will be provided.

Mounted on the runners 2 and 3 are spring mounting lugs 35 which are disposed in a longitudinally spaced series and which are adapted to have swingingly connected thereto springs 36, for a purpose to be presently set forth. Connected with the side plates 6 and I near their rear ends and extending between the corresponding rear ends of the runners 2 and 3 and the posts 25 and 26 are filler plates 31 and 38. Each of the filler plates is provided with a lug 39 for mounting one of the springs 36.

Our improved dust hazard eliminator is particularly adapted for use with a road shaper or scraper such as is disclosed in Patent No. 2,090,- 117. It should be understood, however, that the construction of the road machine is of no material importance, although for the sake of convenience we have indicated it generally at 49, and have shown a draft tongue for the machine at M. Mechanism for operating the machine is shown in dotted lines at 42 and 43, but said mechanism, like the machine itself, forms no part of the present invention.

Normally fitted about the skeleton frame I is a cover or tarpaulin 44. The cover is preferably formed of canvas or other heavy fabric but, if desired, it may be formed of any suitable material. The cover 44 has a top portion 45 which is adapted to snugly fit over the top rails 32, 33 and 34 and over the side rails 28 and 29. The cover also includes side portions 46 and 41 which extend downwardly from the side rails 28 and 29 into overlying relation with respect to the side plates 6 and I. The side portions 46 and 41 terminate at their free ends in reinforced beads 48 and 49 which are each formed with a spaced series of hooks 50. The hooks 50 are adapted to receive the free ends of the springs 36 so that the side portions 46 and 41 will be effectively retained in operative position closely engaging the intermediate posts and end posts. It will be seen that the top and sides of the frame I will be effectively closed in by the cover 44. The cover 44 is shaped at the rear to envelop the rear portion 63 of the frame I, it being found necessary to provide a separate rear cover member 5| which is adapted to fit over the rear end portions of the rails 28, 29, 32, 33 and 34. The rear cover portion 5| is sewed at 52 to the rear end edges of the cover 44, and the bottom edges of the rear cover portion 5| are riveted or otherwise secured to the members I4 and I5 by means of fastening devices 53. In order that dust raised by the operation of the scraper within the dust hazard eliminator may be allowed to escape, we provide a substantially triangular opening 54 which is adapted to be closed by a triangular flap 55. The flap has a fastening device 56 at its apex and this fastening device is engageable with a suitable mating fastening member 51 mounted on the extreme rear end portion of the cover 5I. It should be understood that a fastening of the well known zipper type will also be employed and said zipper fastening will be operative for permitting opening of the flap to a desired degree. The zipper fastening is shown generally at 58.

In order to close the dust hazard eliminator at its forward end we provide a front wall 59- i secured to the wall 59 and are adjustable for controlling the inflow of air to the interior of the machine. Of course, a certain amount of air will be admitted between the lower extremity of the wall 59 and the surface over which the machine is moved. However, it has been found that the amount of air within the eliminator may be regulated to a considerable extent by raising or lowering the flaps 3| and 32.

In use, a road machine having our improved dust hazard eliminator mounted thereon is connected with a tractor, truck, or other motor vehicle and is drawn over the surface to be shaped, with the scraping or shaping machine in engagement with the ground. The shaping machine may be adjusted to effect the needed and 43. As stated, the machine itself does not form a part of the present invention other than to provide a mounting therefor. As the scraping machine is moved along over the surface to be scraped, a large amount of dirt and dust will be thrown up within the interior of the dust hazard eliminator and will thus not be allowed to spread over the landscape in the rear of the scraper. Air currents flowing into the interior of the dust hazard eliminator will blow dust rearwardly within the machine and outwardly through the opening 54, as shown by the arrows in Figures 1 and 3. At the same time, as the vehicle moves forwardly, there will be a strong .ro amount of grading by means of the devices 42 flow of air, current over the top of the dust hazard eliminator and said air currents, as shown by the arrows in Figures 1 and 3 will blow against the outflowing dust issuing from the opening 54 and will tend to blow said dust downwardly. Moreover, inasmuch as the plate It is inclined upwardly, a suction pocket will be defined under the plate for further drawing the dust downwardly. At the same time, air currents will flow I along the sides of the dust hazard eliminator and along the tapered rear portion thereof and will, therefore, tend to direct the dust to form a single low mound which will be narrow and continuous. Dust will, therefore, be confined to a very small area and will not rise in clouds rearwardly of the scraper. The safety of motorists and others following the vehicle will be greatly enhanced and the beauty of the countryside will not be marred by a coat of dust.

It is particularly desired to point out that inasmuch as the opening 54 is adjustable and the flaps 6i and 62 are provided, the flow of dust from the dust hazard eliminator may be controlled with maximum efficiency. In addition, it is desired to point out that the cover for our eliminator may be removed when desired for cleaning or other purposes and may be replaced with the greatest facility. It is thought that the construction and operation of our improved dust hazard eliminator will now be thoroughly understood so that further description is believed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:

1. In a dust hazard eliminator, a skeleton frame, means connecting the skeleton frame with a road machine, and a flexible cover for the skeleton frame, said cover having adjustable means for restricting dust raised by the road machine to flow within a small area rearwardly of the machine.

2. In combination with a road machine, means for confining dust raised by the road machine within said means and to flow therefrom in a restricted flow, said means including a frame on the road machine, and a cover removably mounted on the frame, said cover having an opening disposed at the rear and in the top thereof for the main flow of dust from within the frame and cover.

3. A dust hazard eliminator including a skeleton frame adapted to be mounted on a road machine, said skeleton frame having side plates, posts, side rails, top rails, and a rear portion, said elements being interconnected to define the frame, and a cover adapted to be stretched over the side and top rails and to overlie the side plates, said cover being adapted to envelop the rear portion and having an opening at said rear portion, said skeleton frame and cover being adapted to confine dust raised by the road machine to pass rearwardly through the opening in the rear portion to lie within a relatively small area rearwardly of the machine.

4. In. a dust hazard eliminator, a frame having an upwardly inclined rear portion defining a suction pocket, said rear portion being tapered toward its rear end, a cover fitting about the frame and, the rear portion, and means removably connecting the cover the frame, said rear portion of the cover having an opening for permitting outflow of dust raised by a road scraper within the frame to lie within a small area rearwardly of the dust hazard eliminator, the pull of dust from the frame being drawn downwardly toward the road by the suction developed in the suction pocket upon passage of the machine over a road.

5. In a dust hazard eliminator, a skeleton frame adapted to be fitted on a road machine and including corner posts and intermediate posts, cross braces connecting the posts, side rails connecting said posts and extending longitudinally of the frame, top rails extending longitudinally of the frame on said cross braces, said side rails and intermediate rails being tapered toward each other and joined at their corresponding rear ends, and an upwardly inclined rear portion connected with certain. of the corner posts, said rear portion and said rails cooperating to provide a tapered rear end for the frame.

6. A dust hazard eliminator including a frame adapted to be mounted on a road machine in surrounding relation thereto and including an upwardly tapered rear portion defining a suction pocket, a cover for the frame, and a rear cover portion enveloping the tapered rear portion of the frame, said rear cover portion having a flap defining an opening for permitting the outflow of dust raised by the road machine within the frame and cover, the suction pocket drawing the flow of dust downwardly.

'7. In a dust hazard eliminator as recited in claim 6 wherein the flap is adjustable for varying the size of the opening and thus determining the amount of flow of dust from the frame.

8. In .a dust hazard eliminator, a frame adapted to surround a road machine, and a cover fitting about the frame, said cover having a flap defining an opening for restricting the flow of dust raised by the road machine to flow within a small area. rearwardly of the machine, said cover having a front wall formed with a lateral slot to receive a laterally shiftable tongue of the road machine, and inlet fiaps secured to the front wall and being adjustable for controlling inflow of air to the interior of the machine.

9. In a dust hazard eliminator, a frame adapted to surround a road machine, and a cover fitting about the frame for confining dust raised by the road machine in operation toflow rearwardly of the machine, said cover having a front wall formed with a lateral slot to receive a tongue of the road machine.

10. In a dust hazard eliminator, a frame adapted to surround the road machine, and a cover fitting about the frame, said cover having means for restricting the flow of dust raised by the road machine in operation to fiow rearwardly of the machine, said cover having a front wall, and inlet flaps secured to said front wall and being shiftable for allowing inflow of air to the interior of the machine.

EDWARD C. GLEDI-IIIL. WILLIAM E. GLEDHILL. GAIL W. NEWELL. HARRY H. MILLER. 

